Elders

Larry Bonner

BackgroundLarry was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and has been a faithful member of the Lord’s Church since 1981. He and Dot, his high school sweetheart, have been married since 1971. Larry has a BS in Biology with Wildlife Management emphasis from Arkansas State University. They moved to Lufkin in 1981.

CareerLarry is a retired resource staff supervisor from the U.S. Forest Service after more than 35 years of government service. Larry is also a retired Lt. Col. from the Army National Guard with over 38 years of service. He has served his country well, especially serving one year during the Bosnia crisis in 2000. He has taught the Word of God in adult classes and whenever an opportunity is presented. Dot has a BSN in nursing. Currently a homemaker, she is also a very talented floral designer and sculptor of ceramics.

FamilyLarry and Dot have two daughters, LaDorshé and Lori, both of whom are Christians. The eldest, an RN, is married to a deacon and former gospel preacher, and they have two children living in San Antonio, Texas. The youngest is a Biology and Chemistry teacher at Lewisville (Texas) High School. Lori and her husband have a daughter.

HobbiesLarry’s hobbies are yard work and church work.

Vision for CentralSpiritual growth of its members and being more active in the community spreading the gospel,sharing the purity of life, and doing the will of God to help others avoid sinful situations.

John Havard

BackgroundJohn Havard is a native of Lufkin, Texas. He graduated from Lufkin High School in 1970 and is a graduate of the School of Business at Stephen F. Austin University. John married Glenda Garrison in September 1973 and their wedding ceremony was conducted in the current auditorium of the Central Church. The Garrisons were long time members at Central at the time of John and Glenda’s wedding and the family was instrumental in John’s spiritual development. During their time at Central, John has served as deacon in the areas of benevolence, buildings/grounds, and worship and has also served as a Bible Class teacher for several years. The Central congregation and God have graciously given John and Glenda the opportunity to serve in His Kingdom by calling him to service as a Shepherd in November 2012.

CareerJohn joined Lufkin Industries, Inc. shortly after he and Glenda were married, and he will soon complete 40 years of service with the company. He has held various positions in Human Resources for over 30 years and is currently the Corporate Compliance Manager for the organization. Any career achievements are due to the grace of God and his wife, who patiently and lovingly raised their three children during his college years and early working days while she was employed outside the home as well.

FamilyJohn and Glenda have three children and five grandchildren. Jason, the oldest child, lives in Conway, Arkansas, and their two daughters, Wendy and Alyson, both live in Lufkin, Texas. Jason and Alyson were both baptized at the Central Church while Wendy was baptized at church camp at Abilene Christian University.

HobbiesGolfing and grandchildren

Vision for CentralTo equip God’s people for works of service that God prepared in advance for us to do and to develop our love for one another within the church to the point that the world will recognize that we are the Disciples of Christ.

Mike Nance

BackgroundMike was born in 1960 and grew up in a Christian home in Oklahoma City. His parents instilled in him and his sister a deep and palpable sense of God’s love for people. His mother demonstrated the ability to make scripture come alive in the contemporary lives of her students, and his father was an elder at Cherokee Hills Church of Christ for many years. Mike grew up in the home of an elder and has experienced the over expectations of being an elder’s kid. Mike’s journey of faith mirrors that of so many others who have at times been at faith’s mountaintop reflecting God’s glory to a spiritually dead world while at other times have crawled willingly through the muck that represents the worst that humanity has to offer. His journey with God is solely a testimony of grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, faithfulness, and above all love.

CareerMike graduated from Putnam City West in Oklahoma City in 1978. He received a degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University in 1983 and spent a busy year on a large dairy farm before returning to Stillwater to continue his dream of being a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation in 1988, Mike focused on his lifelong goal of being a zoo veterinarian, practicing his profession at several zoos as well as a variety of small and large animal practices over the years in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas before settling down in Lufkin, where he has been the staff veterinarian for the Ellen Trout Zoo since November 2003.

Ministry RolesMike enjoys teaching Bible classes of all ages and ministering to and alongside folks in both English and Spanish.

FamilyMike met his wife Dee at Oklahoma State University and they went on their first date the following week on February 13, 1982. They were married on Friday the 13th in August of that same year. They have five boys: two biological, two adopted, and one foster. Their oldest, Chet, is married to Kiri and they have two children, Morgan and Sean, and live in Lufkin. Their foster child Derrick lives in Salina, Kansas, has a daughter, Ava. Luke and Kathryn live in Cordell, Oklahoma, where he is the Youth and Family Minister for the 4th and College Church of Christ. Jesse and Nichole have a daughter, Madison, and live in Lufkin. Matthew is in high school and attends Pineywoods Community Academy.

HobbiesLearning to play the drums, bird watching, wildlife/nature.

Vision for CentralThat we be the answer to Jesus’ prayer for Central recorded in John 17 in that we may be perfectly one even as the Father and Son are perfectly one so that the diverse community in which we live may know that Jesus loves them as much as He loves us, evidenced by our love one for another, in perfect unity and, despite the challenges of our diversity, all sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit.

James Slack

BackgroundJames was raised in Lufkin. He graduated from the University of Texas Austin in 1968 with a BS in vertebrate zoology (pre-med). He served our country as an Army officer from 1969-1972 and is a Vietnam veteran. James met Janie on a blind date while in college, and they married in 1969. Following his discharge from the Army, they lived in Marshall, Texas. While in Marshall, they were invited to become engaged in a Bible study, and six months later they were both baptized at 2:00 am one morning in 1974. They have been very active in the Lord’s work since that time. James has taught many youth and adult classes and served for over twenty years as a deacon in the areas of worship and seniors' ministry before being selected as an elder in 2004.

CareerJames has been a science teacher, pharmaceutical salesman, a business development manager, and retired in 2012 after twenty-nine years as a banker. He has been active in various civic affairs and continues to serve as chairman of the Lake Enhancement Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and the Advisory Board of the Blood Center of East Texas. He is a past president and a 30-year member of the Lufkin Rotary Club.

FamilyJames and Janie have three daughters, all of whom are active Christians. The eldest, Shannon, with her husband and three children live in Liberty Hill. Jessica, along with her husband and two daughters, live in Dallas, Texas. Shannon and Jessica graduated from the University of Texas Austin. Cameron graduated from Abilene Christian University. She and her husband and son live in Cedar Park, Texas.

HobbiesHunting and Fishing

Vision for CentralTo serve as the hands of God on earth and to bring Him glory through good works in our community. To teach a balance between God’s love for us and his hatred of sin, including its consequences.